Chapter 1083: Scorched World.

“S- Saint Dragon……”

Someone said, seeing my father appear.

The Divine Dragon, Gu Cheol-un.

A bloodline originating from Shanxi Province, and the figure currently entrusted with the So Clan’s Young Master position.

Despite being a direct descendant of a prestigious family, he was uniquely an only son, and the one who attended the last Dragon Phoenix Gathering, displaying overwhelming martial power.

A rising star the world is watching.

A promising martial artist of the younger generation, possessing overwhelming martial power, who people say might become a new pillar of the orthodox sects in the future.

That was the perception.

I looked at my father.

While my father’s blazing red eyes were also directed at me, Do-yun, who was beside me, nudged me.

“……Classmate Baek. Baek Dong-gi. Look over there. It’s the Divine Dragon.”

“……I know.”

I know just by looking.

“Wow. He looks incredible. I’d only heard rumors, but he’s definitely different, right from birth.”

“……”

“Would the Gu family all be like that?”

No.

“It’s a place I’ve never heard of, but judging by his god-like appearance, the members of that family must all be like that, right?”

…It’s not like that.

Just as the ridiculous misunderstanding started to inflate.

“Hey, you! Shut up!”

“Eek! I’m sorry!”

So-i’s thunderous order rang out. Do-yun hurriedly shut his mouth tight. The surrounding peers did the same.

‘Hmm.’

Even then, as I was still staring intently at my father.

“Ahahaha.”

I heard someone laugh. The man at the very front. It was the laugh of the person who looked like the leader of the Blue Dragon Corps.

“I didn’t realize, but our youngest really knows how to maintain order.”

The man approached, smiling brightly. Everyone who saw him flinched.

“The Blue Joy Sword Master (靑悅劍主)…!”

‘Ah.’

The alias that slipped out made me realize the man’s identity.

‘Was the Blue Joy Sword Master the Blue Dragon Corps Leader?’

The Blue Joy Sword Master, Shin Cheol-yeon.

He was a martial artist called Sword Master even before Baekcheon Geomju, and quite a famous figure as far as I knew.

However, he was a martial artist who had already died by my time, so I only knew him vaguely.

Just a martial artist from a previous generation whose name I knew.

That was the Blue Joy Sword Master.

‘So he was the Blue Dragon Corps Leader during this era.’

That was the impression I had for now.

As I was thinking that and watching the Sword Master, he spoke to So-i, his smile unwavering.

“No, that’s not right. Now that other juniors have joined, there’s no need to call them the youngest anymore.”

“Leader-nim……”

So-i replied, her face slightly flushed at the Blue Joy Sword Master’s words.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Shin Cheol-yeon, the leader of the main unit.”

Then, as the Sword Master looked our way and offered greetings, all the peers formally paid their respects, as if they’d been waiting.

“……L- Leader-nim.”

“……I greet you, Leader-nim.”

Reverence filled everyone’s eyes.

The position of Leader in this generation held immense prestige.

For those aspiring to join the Martial Arts Alliance (무림맹), he was like a goal and a hero.

Everyone gazed at the Sword Master, expressing their utmost respect and admiration.

Just then.

“Ah.”

The Sword Master suddenly shifted his gaze and looked right at me.

And then.

Swooosh-!

‘……!’

Suddenly, an energy probed me.

I wasn’t flustered. It wasn’t very deep.

It wasn’t enough to reveal my cultivation level.

The reason I remained still was simple.

‘He didn’t send it only to me.’

Since it was energy sent to all my peers too, there seemed no need to react.

The Sword Master, having lightly sent out his energy, approached the peers and offered a handshake one by one.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“……Th- Thank you!”

“Ahaha, it’s just a handshake, no need for thanks.”

Was he trying to boost their enthusiasm? After shaking hands with all the peers like that, it was finally my turn.

The Sword Master looked at me, and with what seemed like a sudden realization, gave me a knowing smile.

“You’re Baek Yangcheon, aren’t you?”

“…….”

“You’re the one the Lord of Dominance (패존) supposedly took an interest in, right?”

“……”

Hearing that, I scowled.

Honestly.

‘That guy ruined everything.’

My attention is drawn unnecessarily. Damn that old geezer.

“……Thankfully, I did receive some attention.”

“Hahaha. ‘Some attention’? You’re being overly humble. If the Lord of Dominance himself wanted you as a disciple, that’s quite a position, isn’t it?”

As he spoke, the Sword Master approached me and offered his hand.

“In that sense, the Blue Dragon Corps (청룡대) got lucky too. To gain a rising star like you.”

“……”

I stared at his hand. I had a bad feeling about taking it…?

But I couldn’t just refuse, so I tensed up slightly and reached out my hand.

Firm grip.

And so, as our hands met. At that very moment.

Whooosh-!!

Sure enough, energy began to seep in, bit by bit.

Was it to gauge my cultivation level? It seeped in subtly and delicately.

This seemed meant to be subtle, but…

‘Tsk.’

There was no way I wouldn’t notice. The way it probed, subtly yet obviously, felt rather unpleasant.

What should I do? It’s been a while since I’ve had to ignore something like this.

Should I just let it be? I considered it for a moment, but…

‘Why should I?’

Annoyance flared first. There was only so much I could endure, even having come this far. I had a goal, but I wasn’t about to tolerate this.

‘But just enough.’

Just enough to surprise him.

Adjusting accordingly, I stirred my power.

Whooosh-!!!!

My surging power pushed back against the Sword Master’s energy, repelling it.

Pang!

“……!”

The Sword Master quickly withdrew his hand, his eyes widening.

Whooosh-!

The wind stirred slightly from the energy’s backlash.

Then.

“Ha-!”

The Sword Master let out a disbelieving laugh.

“You’re far more incredible than I anticipated. Hahaha-!!”

Contrary to my worries, the Sword Master’s reaction wasn’t bad at all.

“My apologies. I reacted without thinking.”

As I offered a weak excuse, the Sword Master waved it off.

“It’s fine. Actually, I should be the one apologizing. I never expected you’d sense that. Hahaha.”

Thump thump-!

His strong hand patted my shoulder repeatedly.

“Do you know something?”

“What…?”

“Among the new recruits, you’re the second person to sense that and react.”

It was a reaction that showed he was pleased.

“I went to great lengths to recruit you. I didn’t realize you were this capable. Good. I have high expectations.”

“Thank you.”

He went to great lengths to recruit me.

That fact made me narrow my eyes.

So it wasn’t a coincidence.

“Today is just the first day, so let’s wrap up our introductions here. We’ll be holding a banquet tonight to celebrate your acceptance, so I expect everyone to attend.”

“Understood-!”

“See you later then. The youngest… ah, no. So-i, come to my office.”

“Sure.”

The Sword Master waved dismissively and left.

Just as the Blue Dragon Corps members started to follow him.

“Don’t get cocky. Stay put until the banquet.”

So-i glared and issued a warning.

Everyone froze for a moment at her chilling glare.

So-i rejoined the ranks, and my father brushed past me. He wasn’t looking at me anymore.

It was the same for me. I didn’t bother looking back at my father.

As I just stood there, sensing his departing back.

“Hey.”

Someone spoke to me again.

It was a remarkably rude tone.

‘What is it this time?’

I wondered who it could be this time.

“Fancy meeting you here again?”

Just like his voice, another rude face appeared.

The handsome young man with white hair and blue eyes.

It was Namgung Cheon, surprisingly.

“You remember me, right?”

“……Ah.”

Why is this guy here again?

What’s more.

‘He’s in the Blue Dragon Corps?’

Judging by the martial uniform he wore, he was with the Blue Dragon Corps. Ah, damn it.

‘He looks like trouble.’

Namgung Cheon scowled as I stared at him with distaste.

“What’s with that expression? Such rudeness from a junior.”

“……What?”

“I didn’t like the look of you from the start. And luckily for you, you ended up here?”

His grin looked sinister.

As expected. I finally understood who Namgung Cheon-jun took after.

“You said you were Baek Yangcheon.”

“……Uh, ah, yes.”

“Let’s get along from now on, okay?”

Tap tap.

Namgung Cheon patted my shoulder and walked past.

“Ah.”

Then, I sighed and ran a hand over my face.

“……”

“Seriously, what a pain.”

Getting tangled up like this without a break is exhausting.

---

The Blue Dragon Corps Leader’s Office.

In the spacious room, neatly organized scrolls were arranged. And beyond the desk, Cheong-yeol Geomju sat smiling into the distance.

Then, So-i, standing before him, asked with a puzzled look.

“Did something good happen?”

“Hmm? Ah. Not something good. Just… because it’s amusing.”

“What?”

“It seems like quite a few interesting individuals joined among the new recruits.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

“……”

“……”

So-i agreed with a somewhat reluctant expression.

I couldn’t say about ‘interesting,’ but one particularly bothersome individual had certainly joined.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to be thinking of the same person I am?”

“……”

“Baek Yangcheon, wasn’t it? That one was the most interesting.”

“……”

So-i didn’t answer. That was correct. She was indeed thinking of him.

“I wondered just how capable he was, given the Lord of Dominance showed interest…”

Cheong-yeol Geomju’s smile deepened as he thought of the fierce-looking young man.

“He certainly is worth the effort.”

It was surprising.

Sensing his energy probe. And then repelling it as if resisting.

‘It’s the second time.’

This was only the second time this had happened.

Cheong-yeol Geomju had done the same to all the new recruits.

Of those, only two people had reacted.

One was Baek Yangcheon, who sensed it and reacted defensively, just like moments ago.

And the other one…

‘Devoured it.’

Instead, they tried to devour my energy and attack me.

It was an incredibly violent and destructive reaction.

“What do you think of it?”

Cheong-yeol Geomju asked, looking at the perpetrator of that attempt.

The young man with red eyes, Gu Cheol-un, looked at the Sword Master.

“I did grant your request as a celebration for becoming Deputy Leader (부대주), but you know, this was quite a big deal for me too?”

Bringing in the desired recruit.

Baek Yangcheon, in particular, was a recruit drawing attention from every single unit.

Bringing him in, cutting through all that attention, was no easy feat even for Cheong-yeol Geomju, but…

Nevertheless, Cheong-yeol Geomju had done it.

It was because none other than his own Deputy Leader had requested it.

“Thank you for fulfilling my request.”

Gu Cheol-un bowed his head, and Cheong-yeol Geomju nodded.

“Yeah, well. In the end, it seems beneficial for us too… but I was surprised. That you took an interest.”

He’s a friend who seemed utterly uninterested in others.

Even possessing the blazing martial art known as ‘Fire Artistry’ (화공), I’d always thought of him as an utterly cold and indifferent person.

Even Cheong-yeol Geomju was surprised when he asked to bring Baek Yangcheon.

“Is there a reason for that?”

“……”

Hearing the question, Gu Cheol-un pondered for a moment.

Then, shortly after, he spoke to the Sword Master.

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm?”

That was an unexpected answer.

Asked for the reason, he replied that he didn’t know.

However.

“I don’t know for sure, but I intend to find out starting now.”

Gu Cheol-un, regarding the outcome of that unknown mystery.

Intended to seek it out starting now.